Candy Boy finishes local Kentucky Derby preparation

ARCADIA, Calif. - Candy Boy, third in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday, his final local workout in advance of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Candy Boy was ridden by jockey Gary Stevens, and worked in company with a stablemate. Candy Boy started a half-length behind, caught the pacesetter on the turn, and pulled away in the stretch while racing outside hsi workmate.

Trainer John Sadler said that Candy Boy will be shipped to Churchill Downs on Monday, and will have his final workout for the Kentucky Derby on April 26.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

“We’ve got a nice work today,” Sadler said. “We can check him out and put him on a plane on Monday.

“I want to get him on the ground there, let him see the track, and get settled.”

Sadler timed Candy Boy evenly through the work, going the first furlongs in 12.20 seconds, and three furlongs in 36. Sadler timed Candy Boy working in 1:00, and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.

The exercise was Candy Boy’s first major workout since finishing third in the Santa Anita Derby, beaten 8 3/4 lengths by California Chrome. Candy Boy did not start from Feb. 8 to April 5.

“He had a couple of months from the Lewis to the Santa Anita Derby,” Sadler said. “The plan all along is to be ready for Kentucky.”

Owned by breeders Lee and Susan Searing, Candy Boy has won 2 of 7 starts and earned $425,600. Candy Boy won the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 1, his first start of the year. Candy Boy will be the first Kentucky Derby starter for the Searings.

“I’ve always said I wanted to go back to Kentucky with a horse who has a chance,” said Lee Searing, who attended Saturday’s workout. “This horse, this year, he deserves to run. This should be fun.”